Man pleads not guilty in fatal stabbing of Albany woman

Relationship problems noted between man and Albany woman

By Robert Gavin

Updated 8:41 pm, Thursday, June 6, 2013

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Robert L. Williams, 41, Albany, is wanted for questioning about the death of his wife, Sharene Wallace, 37, of 279 Sherman St. She was found dead in her apartment on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. (Albany Police Department) less

Robert L. Williams, 41, Albany, is wanted for questioning about the death of his wife, Sharene Wallace, 37, of 279 Sherman St. She was found dead in her apartment on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. (Albany Police ... more

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Home at 279 Sherman St. where a body was found on Thursday, May 30, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Home at 279 Sherman St. where a body was found on Thursday, May 30, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Home at 279 Sherman St. where a body was found on Thursday, May 30, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Home at 279 Sherman St. where a body was found on Thursday, May 30, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Home at 279 Sherman St. where a body was found on Thursday, May 30, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Home at 279 Sherman St. where a body was found on Thursday, May 30, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

Man pleads not guilty in fatal stabbing of Albany woman

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Albany

A convicted sex offender on parole pleaded not guilty Thursday to murdering a West Hill woman who was considered his wife under Muslim law.

Police believe Wallace was killed between May 26 and May 29, when she was found in her bedroom closet about 9:50 p.m. court papers said.

Williams, who once lived on Quail Street, went missing after his wife was found dead. He was apprehended Wednesday in Manhattan and returned to Albany, where city detectives interviewed him and charged him with second-degree murder.

It carries a sentence of 25 years to life upon conviction. Williams is being held without bail.

Police Chief Steve Krokoff and family members said Williams and Wallace were married under Muslim law, although relatives also said the marriage was not official under state law.

Her family described Wallace, also known as Sakina, as a devout Muslim woman and mother of two who just married Williams on March 18.

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Court papers show Williams — a Level 2 or moderate-risk sex offender who was wanted for a parole violation — had a history of alcohol issues and threats of suicide. The defendant appeared before the judge wearing a yellow Albany County jail outfit.

Abdul Haqq, who identified himself as a former husband of Wallace under Muslim law, attended the arraignment with fellow members of the Masjid As-Salam mosque on Central Avenue. He told reporters there were signs of relationship problems between Williams and Wallace — and noted "insecurity issues on (Williams') part."

But he said no one expected bloodshed.

"If there were like really, really bad signs, we could have stepped in and tried to do (something)," Haqq said. "They're grown adults. So from what I understand they were counseled and everything. I think they were advised to part — and they didn't do it."

Haqq said Williams, also a Muslim, had only recently come to the mosque community and was active. He said Williams was known by the name Abdul Melik.

"This was like a shock that it happened," Haqq said, saying Wallace was loved by mosque members. "She was dear to me ... no one deserves to die like that."

Wallace's mother and sister, who live in Clifton Park, attended the court appearance. The sister, Tanya Ellis, 33, had never before seen Williams.

Ellis told reporters she hopes Williams "gets justice for what he did to my sister because it was really not necessary. She was a great person. She was very happy, outgoing, charitable and she didn't deserve that, what he did. I just can't even begin to understand why."

Ellis said her sister converted to Islam at age 13.

She said it was "definitely a relief" when police informed her Williams had been arrested.

On Wednesday, Ellis told the Times Union that her sister was the oldest of four siblings, including two brothers, who grew up on Sheridan Avenue in Albany. She said her sister had 6-year-old daughter who lives in Virginia, and a 19-year-old daughter who lives in Clifton Park with Ellis and the grandmother. Ellis said the teenager "dealing with it as best as possible."